Philippines' President Benigno Aquino (right) in a picture taken on Nov 6, 2012. Communist insurgents in the Philippines called off a truce with the government on Wednesday, almost two weeks ahead of schedule, raising concerns about the future of peace talks. -- PHOTO: AFP

MANILA (AFP) - Communist insurgents in the Philippines called off a truce with the government on Wednesday, almost two weeks ahead of schedule, raising concerns about the future of peace talks.

The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) blamed the government for their action but a spokesman for President Benigno Aquino said the CPP just wanted an excuse to cut the ceasefire short.

A CPP statement said the truce, originally scheduled to run from Dec 20 to Jan 15, had ended at noon Wednesday because it believed the government only wanted a truce to remain in place until then.

"The (communist New People's Army) and the people's militias should immediately assume an offensive posture and confront and frustrate the enemy campaigns of suppression," the statement said.